GREEN BAY - Green Bay Packers Za’Darius Smith is being “shut down” because his injured back did not respond well to playing 18 snaps against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
Coach Matt LaFleur said that Smith would go on injured reserve, which means he will be out a minimum of three weeks.
LaFleur said the decision was made because the Packers want Smith on the field as a full-time player and to do so, they feel he needs more time to rehab his back. He said they could have gone along playing him in spots, but thought it was better for the long-term to get him completely healthy.